“Move on,” he said as he left.
And gradually the anger softened; I found I could manipulate it.
Sometimes I’d even briefly forget, but then the rivulets of resentment trickled unseen, spilling into other parts of my life before hardening into spikes of bitterness. I would break them off at will… roll them fractiously between my fingers.
I saw them today, laughing, glowing with love and life.
And the pain returned.
So tonight I carefully fashioned two more figures, suspending them by the neck above the flame again, but closer.
It had better work this time… I need to move on.
We’re leaving port today, so just enough time to post this week’s Friday Fictioneers submission before casting off. Will catch up with you all later on, internet connection permitting. Thanks once again to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for her patience, perseverance and unfailing diplomacy. 🙂
Dear Sandra,
There’s moving on and then there’s moving on. I love the way you take her from jilted lover to angry witch (in the literal sense). Creepy subtlety.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Loved your new version of the rules/protocol. 🙂
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Special thanks and credit go to Janet. 😉 She suggested it and then did it for me.
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The voodoo angle… yeah that was a good one. Nothing’s like a woman scorned.
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So true! 🙂
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What a great, lasting image in that final line.
Well told, Sandra
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Thanks Siobhan. 🙂
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To be helplessly hung up on something or someone…what a pain, what a burden. Great story.
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It must be awful. Fortunately I’m a survivor! 🙂
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Creepy **and awesome** ..you do voodoo well!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You are at your best with these mysterious, ‘under the skin’ tales of human foils. Delicious intrigue again!
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Thank you!
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Sandra,
that is some extreme closure. 🙂 I think this is the first dark story I’ve read this week. I’m glad I’m not the only one. Wonderful story. I look forward to reading your stories every week.
-David
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Thank you David. 🙂 Yes, it is a bit extreme isn’t it?
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Love the picture of the two figures, suspended by the neck – gruesome but somehow satisfying.
Well done
Dee
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Whatever it takes to move on …. 😉
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This story immediately made me think of Sheryl Crow’s “It Don’t Hurt” which also is the tale of a woman scorned with a surprise ending. You are good!!!
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I’m not familiar with that song – I’ll have to look it up. Thanks for dropping by – I’ve been by yours to see how your project is coming along. Well done!
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Gee whiz, Sandra, you’re on a roll with this creepy stuff! Wonderful job, always. Thanks!
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Love creepy! 🙂 Thank you Kent.
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Made me smile – great story.
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Thank you!
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Sandra, Another really good story. Let’s hope the “melting” gets her over her intense ill feeling about the couple. Have a good trip. Well done. 🙂
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I think she’s well on her way to recovery. 🙂
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I just love ‘rivulets of resentment’ and ‘spikes of bitterness’, in fact I love the whole thing. Really great characterisation.
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Thanks Claire, appreciate your dropping by.
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You gave it a perfect ending.
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I’m sure her victims won’t think so but hey… it’s not always a happy ending. 🙂
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🙂
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nicely woven tale as usual, Sandra. I particularly liked that middle paragraph where you describe the anger like molten wax. Creepy stuff indeed.
The first line was a bit clichéd, but it works too well with the ending for me to want you to change it. And anyway, break ups often are a bit cliched
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Yes, I agree about the first line, and the title is one I’ve used before. But I was in a bit of a rush yesterday. 😦
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Sandra! I’d thought about using the candle wax in my story but couldn’t come up with anything so went another direction. But, OH MY, you certainly did. This is wonderful. Alicia
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Thank you Alicia, glad you liked it.
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Wonder if this is where Madame Tussauds got her idea for the wax museums.
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🙂 Thanks for reading Kim.
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Great idea, Sandra, and flawless execution as usual. (That’s me being fulsome.) 🙂
janet
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Thanks Janet. Fulsome is good. 😉
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I loved how you played with the imagery. Evil but great, lol 🙂
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Thanks Helen! 🙂
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Move on and How! very well written Sandra.
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Beautiful. I could feel the pain in your words. Well done.
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Thank you Mary! 🙂
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I hope for her sake this method allows her to relieve her anger a little! So few ways to vent your emotions in these kinds of situations!
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I think she’s found a perfect method of venting. 🙂
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Do I dare admit I know exactly how she feels? Not that I would curse anyone or melt them or …how do you do that, anyway? Kidding 😉
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I’ve got an instruction book somewhere… no wait… only joking.
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Nice creepy story, with a great “callback” at the end. Very good!
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Thanks Perry! 🙂
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Wow! Nice build-up to a wicked ending. Well done!
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Thanks Jan. 🙂
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I really liked the metaphor for your emotions and then the real life act of vengeance.
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It didn’t feel such a long time since I did a story about wax, but I enjoyed writing this. 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
Your MC sounds exactly like me of late. Strange…
….and well done, as usual, which is not easy, even though you make it appear so.
Aloha,
Doug
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If someone’s giving you grief Doug, let me know. Or send me some of their hair and fingernail clippings… 😉 Thank you for dropping by. Hope you are well.
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Brilliant! That simple.
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Thanks Dawn!
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Well done. I knew a witch who put a curse on her ex. Damned if it didn’t work. Great story. Lucy
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I love how you wove her emotions into the shape of the dripping wax. That was awesome!
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Thank you Judah. 🙂
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Oh – I love it! I think we had similar trains of thought this week, only mine went into the light and yours into a very dark tunnel. Great malicious stuff!
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Thanks el. I enjoyed yours.
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Fabulous take on the prompt! I never thought of voodoo. Great twist ending.
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Thanks Lisa!
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good take on the story. especially liked the second half. on another note, safe journey
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Thank you! We’ll do our best.
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your story was truly inspired by this week’s picture prompt. well done.
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Thank you!
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Ha! Great way to move on. At least she’s persistent. 😉
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/hope-in-the-darkest-of-days/
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Isn’t she? 🙂 Thanks Maggie.
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I love the para about the rivulets of resentment. Describes the photo so well.
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Glad you liked it.
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what great imagery….. sweet revenge.
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Thank you! 🙂
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carefully crafted creepiness! love it 🙂
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Thanks KZ!
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This is excellent.Sandra! I considered the voodoo angle. Your story is quite effective and so well written.
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I love the imagery in this. Well done. Cheers! 🙂
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Love this, Sandra. I find myself wondering if she only got into witchcraft because of him. It seems she would have known what would work and what wouldn’t if she had always been practicing the dark arts.
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Sandra, wonderful story – Voodoo is so creepy but it works! Thanks for the chill up and down my spine. Very good! Nan 🙂 Oh yes, have a wonderful, safe trip!
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